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PEDIATRIC ASTHMA FACT SHEET
What is asthma?
• A chronic inflammatory condition of the lungs that
can lead to breathing problems known as asthma
attacks (episodes) – a series of events that result
in narrowed airways, causing difficulty breathing
and the familiar wheeze often associated with the
disease.1b
• A reversible, obstructive lung disease
characterized by excessive sensitivity or increased
reactivity of the airways of the lungs, to any
number of different environmental stimuli.
• A disease that, if not properly managed, can be
life-threatening.1c
What causes an asthma attack?
Triggers range from respiratory infections to
allergic reactions to airborne irritants. Other
triggers may include certain foods, exposure to cold
air or a sudden change in temperature, exercise,
many household and industrial products, scents, or
excitement or stress. Each person reacts differently
to these factors.
Examples of airborne irritants include1h:
• Pollen
• Molds
• Animal dander
• Feathers
• Dust mites
• Cigarette smoke
• Air pollutants
Does asthma affect children?
Asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness among
children.1e In 2003, approximately 6.2 million
children under the age of 18 were diagnosed with
asthma; of these, 4 million suffered an actual
asthma attack or episode.1d Up to 80 percent of
children with asthma demonstrated symptoms before
age five.2 Asthma accounted for 12.8 million lost
school days in 2003, making it the leading cause of
school absenteeism attributable to chronic
conditions. 1f
Is pediatric asthma a serious problem?
• Most children have mild to moderate asthma, which
can be controlled by treatment at home or in the
doctor's office.2 Yet for some children, the illness
becomes a formidable burden that results in
emergency-room visits and hospitalizations. 3 In
fact, asthma is the third leading cause of
hospitalization among children under the age of 15.
1g
What are the symptoms of an asthma attack in
children?
During an asthma attack, children may have
difficulty breathing or begin to breathe very fast.
This may or may not be associated with exercise.
They may feel short of breath, even at rest.6a
Although children may seem symptom-free for long
periods of time, they can experience acute (sudden
onset) or intermittent attacks. Other symptoms may
include the following:
• Coughing
• Wheezing or whistling
• Chest tightness.7
What happens to children during an asthma attack?
The lining of the airways become inflamed and
swollen, and there is an increase in mucus
production. Also, the muscles of the airways become
inflamed. As a result, the air passages in the lungs
become narrower and breathing becomes more
difficult.
How is asthma treated?
Most people with asthma take 2 kinds of medicines.
One is a controller medicine. This stops the airways
from reacting to asthma triggers and helps control
inflammation, so patients are able to breathe
better. Controller medicines work only if taken
everyday, as prescribed by a physician.9a
Another kind of asthma medicine is a quick-relief,
or rescue, medicine (also known as bronchodilator).
These medicines, which are inhaled, dilate, or open,
the airways to make it easier to breathe.
Bronchodilators should only be used for quick relief
of symptoms of an attack.9b
To provide the best care for your child with asthma,
know the symptoms and triggers of asthma, understand
how to control an asthma attack, and work closely
with your child’s doctor to develop a health plan
designed specifically for your child.
This information is provided by AstraZeneca
Pharmaceuticals LP, makers of PULMICORT RESPULES® (budesonide
inhalation suspension). For more information on the
symptoms and triggers of asthma, as well as
potential treatment options, parents can visit
www.everydaykidz.com . For more information
about AstraZeneca, please visit:
www.astrazeneca-us.com
References:
1. American Lung Association. Asthma and Children
Fact Sheet. Available at:
www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvluk9o0e&b=44352
Accessed 1/17/06
2. Kemp JP, Kemp JA. Management of Asthma in
Children. Am Fam Phys. 2001;63: 1341-8, 1353-4
3. Childhood Asthma Initiative (California
Department of Health Services). Asthma program
manual: A comprehensive guide to planning a program
for prevention and treatment of asthma in children
under five
4. National Center for Health Statistics. Asthma
Prevalence, health care use, and mortality, 2002.
Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/asthmahealthestat1.pdf
accessed 1/17/06 Accessed 1/17/06
5. American Lung Association. Asthma and African
Americans. Available at:
www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvluk9o0e&b=308858
Accessed 1/17/06
6. Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia. Pediatric
Asthma. Available at: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000990.htm
Accessed 1/17/06
7. American Academy of Allergy Asthma and
Immunology. What is Asthma? How can you tell if your
child may have it? Available at:
www.aaaai.org/patients/allergic_conditions/pediatric_asthma/what_is_asthma.stm
Accessed 1/17/06
8. Children’s Hospital Boston. My child has asthma.
Available at
http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site2174/mainpageS2174P0.html
Accessed 1/17/06
Familydoctor.org. Asthma: controller and
quick-relief medicine. Available at:
www.familydoctor.org/665.xml accessed
1/17/06
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